Why Did Jesus Die on the Cross? – To Be the Perfect Sacrifice

1. Read: Hebrews 7:26-27

2. About the Text:

1) The book of Hebrews was written to encourage Jewish Christians to be faithful to Jesus.

2) It compares Christianity with the Mosaic Law.

3) One point of contrast is the sacrifices made under the Law.

4) Those sacrifices were not perfect and could not make the worshipper perfect.

5) A new and better sacrifice was needed (Read Hebrews 10:1-4).

6) Why did Jesus die on the cross? To Be that Perfect Sacrifice

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. God is a just God and He demands justice.

1) Deuteronomy 32:4 – “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”

2) Psalm 7:11 – “God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.”

3) Isaiah 30:18 – “For the LORD is a God of justice.”

2. Justice demands that a price be paid for sin.

1) This is what atonement is all about – paying for one’s sins.

2) Exodus 29:36 – “And you shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement. You shall cleanse the altar when you make atonement for it, and you shall anoint it to sanctify it.”

3) Leviticus 5:10 – “And he shall offer the second as a burnt offering according to the prescribed manner. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin which he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him.”

3. Old Testament sacrifices were designed to illustrate this point.

1) Leviticus 1:4 – “Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.”

2) Leviticus 17:11 – “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”

1. The worshipper would confuse the sacrifice with God’s grace.

1) It wasn’t the sacrifice that took away sins, but God.

2) David understood this: Psalm 51:16-17.

3) Read Micah 6:6-8.

2. The worshipper would offer empty sacrifices.

1) Isaiah 1:10-15.

2) Hosea 6:6 – “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

3. The sacrifice itself was not equal to the punishment for the crime.

1) Heb.10:4-“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”

2) It was an unwilling sacrifice.

3) It was an undervalued sacrifice.

4) It was an impure sacrifice.

5) It was a limited sacrifice (limited to the current transgression).

1. Once for all time – Hebrews 7:27 – “who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.”

2. Free, willing – Hebrews 10:9-10 – Read.

3. Sinless – Hebrews 7:26-28 – Read.

4. Valuable – Hebrews 9:12 – “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

5. That satisfied God’s desire for justice.

1) Hebrews 2:17 – “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

2) Read Romans 3:25-26.

1. Why did Jesus die on the cross? To be the perfect sacrifice.

1) Justice Demands Payment

2) Old Testament Sacrifices were Insufficient

3) A Perfect Sacrifice was Needed

2. Invitation